Holiday Cherry Crunch Coffee Cake Easy & Delicious

As my thoughts turn to the holidays, I think of my family and the fun they had in the kitchen. Then, I remembered this cake! I took it for granted; it was always there and in my memory, had gotten lost behind the chocolate!

For me, next to chocolate, if there is a next, is cherry anything. This coffee cake is so easy and yummy, you will enjoy changing it up with different toppings such as pineapple pie filling, apple pie filling, peach or blueberry, and the list goes on. You could even make it angel food shape, put the pie topping in the middle, or even try a pudding in the middle. How about cutting the cake in half, and put the creamy filling on top of the bottom layer? Are you getting creative?

I know I normally tell a story with my aunt's recipes, and the one that goes with this is strange. I was sweet sixteen and nick named this cake "Turn Down Cake!" Not that I ever turned this cake down. But, I did turn down a date to stay at my Aunt Lady's to bake it.

Well, I guess that tells you a bit about the guy, yes? We'll leave that to your imagination.

In the meantime, I hope your holidays this season are sweet, simple, and homey.

Think about the dates you've turned down, or wished you had, as you gather these ingredients:

• 1/2 c Slivered almonds, chopped peanuts, or walnuts, or the nut of your choice. OPTIONAL
• 1 c bran cereal
• additional 1/4 c bran cereal, set aside
• 1 c white sugar
• additional 2 tblsp granulated sugar, set aside
• 1/2 c softened butter
• additional 1 tblsp butter, set aside
• 2 c flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten (or the now available 1/2 c frozen egg substitute, thawed)
• 1/2 c skim milk (or whole milk if you can)
• 1 can cherry pie filling

Procedure:

1. Mix your "set aside" ingredients together in a small bowl, with the nuts added if you chose them; this is the topping, so set aside for the last step.
2. Mix flour and bran cereal, baking powder and cinnamon, set this aside.
3. Beat at medium speed the remaining butter and sugar until creamy and smooth.
4. Blend in eggs and milk.
5. Add the flour mixture and stir until blended but do not overbeat. Batter will be thick.
6. Spread batter in a greased round cake pan, one that is springform if possible.
7. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes. Spoon cherry pie filling over the batter, and sprinkle with the topping. Bake 10 - 15 minutes longer or until a toothpick comes out clean with the exception of the topping.
8. Cool in pan about 20 minutes and then remove side and bottom of the springform pan and cool completely on wire rack.
9. Drizzle with a powdered sugar glaze, which is just glaze and water or milk until it's thin and smooth.

You can do this cake tonight and freeze it until Thanksgiving, but don't add the glaze until you thaw the cooked cake.

If you are lucky enough to like your date, then bake this cake with them, put in a movie and spend a night at home, this is a snuggle cake if there ever was one.